William Don Parkinson (1942 – August 31, 2020) was an American Veteran and Sergeant of the Vietnam war, politician, and lawyer who served as Speaker of the

Guam Legislature The Legislature of Guam () is the law-making body for the United States territory of Guam. The unicameral legislative branch consists of fifteen senators, each serving for a two-year term. All members of the legislature are elected at-large with ...

from 1995 to 1997 and as Majority Leader from 1989 to 1995. A member of the

Democratic Party of Guam The Democratic Party of Guam is a political party in Guam affiliated with the U.S. Democratic Party. Its origins lie in the Popular Party, which was the only political party on Guam until 1956.Guampedia''Democratic Party of Guam'' Hagatna, 20 Aug ...

, he also served as a Senator for 7 consecutive terms, from 1983 to 1997.

Early life

Parkinson was born in 1942 in Idaho and served in the U.S. military during the Vietnam War.Pacific Daily News
''Don Parkinson D-Mongmong-Toto-Maite ''
Hagatna, Guam. He graduated from the University of Idaho law school.The State Bar of California
''William Don Parkinson''
California.

Law practice

Parkinson was admitted to the State Bar of California on November 25, 1974, served as a staff attorney for the Micronesian Constitutional Convention of 1975, and as a prosecuting attorney for

Colfax, Washington Colfax is a city in and the county seat of Whitman County, Washington, Whitman County, Washington (state), Washington, United States. The population was 2,782 at the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census, making Colfax the second largest city in ...

Guam Legislature

Elections

Leadership roles

Policy

Bills and public laws introduced

* 17th Guam Legislature - Introduced 16 bills, 2 of which became public laws. including Public Law 17-17, which established a 10 year alternative energy plan for Guam. * 18th Guam Legislature - Introduced 21 bills,Guam Legislature. ''Bill Sponsor File - 18th Guam Legislature - Don Parkinson'', Hagatna, Guam. 1 of which became Public Law 18-26, which approved bond issues on behalf of 2 companies for the Guam Economic Development Authority and for which the Government of Guam disclaimed liability. * 19th Guam Legislature - Introduced 6 public laws, including Public Law 19-31, which raised the minimum wage on Guam to $3.75 on January 1, 1989, and Public Law 19-41 that requires that food, drugs, and consumer commodities be marked with an expiration date if recommended by the manufacturer or distributor. * 20th Guam Legislature - Introduced 73 bills, 15 of which became public laws, including Public Law 20-219 which provided a subsidy for essential power coverage.

Unemployment insurance

Parkinson introduced unemployment insurance legislation during each of 5 terms: Bill 929 during the 19th,Guam Territorial Law Library. ''Combined list of bills through 227-30'', Hagatna, Guam. Bill 285 during the 20th, Bill 101 during the 21st, Bill 123 during the 22nd, and Bill 99 during the 23rd Guam Legislatures, respectively.

Speaker of the 23rd Guam Legislature

It had been expected that Senator Thomas C. "Tom" Ada would be chosen by his colleagues as Speaker of the Guam Legislature, but a group of Democratic and Republican Senators elected Parkinson as Speaker, instead.

Candidacy for Attorney General of Guam

Parkinson ran for Attorney General of Guam in 2002. He placed 3rd in the general election in November with 15% of the vote.

Personal life and death

Don Parkinson married Marina Parkinson and was the father of 7 children. One of his children, William M. "Will" Parkinson, ran for the Guam Legislature and the Consolidated Commission on Utilities in 2018. William Parkinson was later elected as a senator to the 37th Guam Legislature. Parkinson was diagnosed with

Parkinson's disease Parkinson's disease (PD), or simply Parkinson's, is a neurodegenerative disease primarily of the central nervous system, affecting both motor system, motor and non-motor systems. Symptoms typically develop gradually and non-motor issues become ...

in the late 1980s. He died in the Philippines on August 31, 2020.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Parkinson, Don 20th-century Guamanian politicians 21st-century Guamanian politicians 2020 deaths Guamanian Democrats Guamanian lawyers California lawyers Washington (state) lawyers Military personnel from Idaho University of Idaho College of Law alumni Members of the Legislature of Guam Speakers of the Legislature of Guam 1942 births